Wax String Alcohol Ink Washer Bracelets: Part 2
I hope you enjoyed the first part of this project, and I’m excited to show you the rest! Once you’ve decorated your washer(s), you’re ready to make some truly wearable art. This is a technique you could use to make all sorts of bracelets, though. I’ve used connector charms in the same way. So you have lots of options!
My supply list for this part is short:
Decorated washers
Waxed polyester cord
Ruler
Scissors
Clipboard or tape
Lighter
You could use all kinds of materials for your bracelet cording, but I prefer waxed cord. It wears well and holds up well to getting wet. Between the kids and myself, we’ve worn many wax string bracelets for months and months at a time, and they all still look like new. The website I ordered my waxed cord from recently closed, but this is the site they directed their customers to. https://rumisumaq.com/product-category/waxed-polyester-cord-settanyl-1mm-linhasita/
There are a lot of different styles of wax string bracelets, but nothing I tried felt quite right until I tried this macrame square knot technique. Oddly enough I’ve been using this knot both to make the clasps on all of my wax string bracelets and to make paracord bracelets—all without realizing it was the same knot. So it’s a versatile knot, and one you’ll use two ways in this project alone.
I think the best way to explain how to tie a square knot is to show you. I’ll attempt to explain it in words, but please ask any questions you have!! I’ll keep working on getting my video to work. I’ll get to all of that in a minute, though.
To start, I used 5 pieces of string. To make my first bracelet, I cut them into two 25” pieces, two 12” pieces, and one 4-5” piece. The 12” strings are going to be folded in half, and they will determine the overall size of the bracelet. My wrists aren’t exactly tiny, and I like my strings on the shorter side, so this works for me. This might be too small for some people and too big for others. I think it’s just a matter of trial and error. For the longer strings, which will form the knots, the rule I learned when I was first making paracord bracelets is to cut 1 foot for every 1 inch of bracelet. That held up for me here, and I kept tying knots until I couldn’t tie another one. For a little more of a buffer, cut the longer strings an inch or two longer.
To actually start tying the knots, take one of the 12” strands and fold it in half. Put the folded end through the center of the washer and fold it down. You’ll end up with a little loop, so feed the two loose ends through that and pull it tight. Then flip the washer around around and do the same with the other 12” strand. This is a good time to try to center the word you’ve stamped between the two strands. It probably won’t end up being so tight that you can’t spin the washer, but just in case, I do it anyway.
Choose a side to work with and stick the other side under the clip of a clipboard or tape it to a table. You don’t *have* to do this, but I think it’s a lot easier.
Fold one of your longer working strands in half to mark the center point, and put that center point right under the two strands hanging down (which you’ll treat as one strand)—as close to the washer as you can get. Take the long strand on the left and make a loop, crossing that strand over the top of the two in the middle. Here’s what it should look like.
Take the long strand on the right, and go OVER the strand you just set down, UNDER the two middle strands, and UP through the loop on the left. Pull both working strands tight to form your first knot.
Then reverse what you just did to make your second knot. Keep switching sides to make your knots.
Make knots until you’ve reached a length you’re happy with. Remember that you need a little space on the back of the bracelet for the clasp. Each side of my bracelet is a little under 2.5”. Pull the ends of the strings tight and trim them down to about 1/4” before using the lighter to melt them the rest of the way down. Please be careful doing this!!
You should be left with a few inches of string—like little tails, and you have some options here. You can either leave them separated and just knot them together at the very end, or you can twist them together like I did. This twisting technique is one you’ll use a lot if you make other wax string bracelets. Holding on to each of the two strands, twist each one separately—in the same direction—about 5 or 6 times. Don’t let go! Hold them together by their tips and let go. They should twist together. It may take a few tries to get a feel for this, but once they’re good and twisted together, tie a knot at the very end, and cut the loose ends down to 1/4 or so. Use the lighter to melt the ends down.
Take your bracelet and hold it together like it would be on your wrist, with the two twisted ends overlapping. Take your shortest piece (that 4-5” one) of cord, and tie a few of the same knots you just tied. This will form the closure for the bracelet and allow the ends to slide. Tie them tightly so that the bracelet won’t loosen on you while you’re wearing it. Trim the loose ends and use your lighter again to melt them down.
Congratulations! You now have a beautiful bracelet to wear! I hope it means as much to you as it means to me. If you enjoyed the process, you can make them for everyone you know.
